So scared to hear back from the waiting list...

Hey everybody,
I was wait-listed at my top choice school, Phillips Exeter Academy, and I am dying to know if I got off the waiting list. I know that April tenth is approaching, and I was wondering if that is the specific day that people hear back, or just around that time. I know there is no set day, but people have been telling me that April 10th is the most common day to hear back from a waiting list. I am really kind of slowly tearing myself apart with this waiting. I don’t know what to do, and I have never wanted anything more in my life than to go to this school. Also, I was wondering if anyone has any idea how PEA"s yield is doing this year. (A.K.A., how many kids have taken their spots.) The less spots other people take, the more chance there is that I will get in. I am applying as a male boarding junior if that helps. Thank You all for reading!

The chances of getting off a wait list, especially from a school like Exeter, is virtually nonexistent. Don’t tear yourself apart if you don’t get a phone call on April 10th.

What I would recommend right now is you focus on finishing 10th grade strong, and thinking about your application next year (if you are reapplying.)

Try not to get your hopes up, but best of luck.

Thanks mathman1201,
You’re probably right, but I can’t just forget about it this year. People do turn down Exeter (not many), but some people do. Do you think that reapplying as a senior is a bad idea? I have heard horror stories about being a new senior, but is it worth doing? Thank you.

I personally would go for repeat upper, but it’s up to you.

The chances of getting off WL is grim to none. And if it comes at all, it could come as late as Aug.

Move on.

Mathman1201,
So repeat junior year? I guess I could, but I don’t know if my parents would let me. Do you think that it’s not a good idea to apply senior year? Or any tips to try and convince the parents? Thanks!

Here’s the parental convincing thread: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-cafe/1525023-how-to-convince-your-parents-to-let-you-go-to-prep-school-p1.html

I honestly don’t think it’s a good idea to apply for a senior, but if your parents don’t let you, then shoot for the moon.

Thank you so much for all of you advice!

Unless u are an int’l student, there’s no point in entering senior year. You’ll be entering during US college application season needing recommendations from adults who barely know u.

Yes. The odds are even worse. The vast majority of accepted seniors are, in fact, post-grads. Additionally, it will make it very difficult for you in the college admissions process; you can’t apply anywhere EA/ED because the teachers and GC’s won’t know you. Even for RD, they will not know you as well as your classmates.

Heard back from our #1 choice where we were WL for FA. Still WL and they do NOT anticipate any FA becoming available. Looks like we go with choice #4 (who is actually an elite school that gave us a PILE of $$ but for various reasons lands #4 on our list). NO, I realize it’s not a bad spot to be in but we sure would like #1 to have flipped for us. If WL school comes back before May 31st we can forfeit deposit at #4 but that does not look likely. Stinks.

BTW, a big push for us to resign ourselves to #4 is that we are TIRED of this rat race. Are any other families conceding or am I just weak?

Skieurope,
So I should apply repeat junior year next year if my parents let me?

And I don’t need FA, btw

Talked personally with the AD of WL school. They still have FA grants out and they have already exceeded their FA budget so there will almost assuredly not be any FA available for WL kids. There is a SLIGHT (VERY SLIGHT) chance of FA kids not returning due to $$ or asked not to come due to grades + someone could potentially get booted out but generally speaking, there is no FA $ available. We need 50% (2 kids private) so we are moving on.

I’m the wrong person to ask on that, as I would be hard pressed to see a valid reason for shelling out an extra 50k before even considering college and potential grad school expenses.

@skieurope‌, I understand where you are coming from, but the finances of it all are not the main concern for my family. (I’m not billionaire rich, but money isn’t too big of a problem when it comes to education.) Assuming that I can spend the money, would repeating junior year be beneficial, rather than going in senior year? Thank you so much for your responses!

I think a repeat would be better. It allows you to make friends easier, get to know your teachers, etc. Senior Year also will be tough because kids have been working with their college counselors for a while, it would be difficult for you to just jump in.

Some schools do not take new seniors at all. I imagine applying colleges Early would be difficult as a new senior.

@payn4ward Exeter does accept new seniors, but I definitely want to consider repeating junior year. I haven’t heard back from the wait list yet, but hoping to maybe hear something this week. Anybody know how exeter’s yield is doing this year???